Charlie Chan, the fictional Chinese-American police detective first
appeared in Earl der Bigger's novel, House Without a Key (1925).
The novel is set in Hononulu, where Chan is a detective on the police
force. A total of six novels featured Chan:

The House Without a Key (1925)

The Chinese Parrot (1926)

Behind That Curtain (1928)

The Black Camel (1929)

Charlie Chan Carries On (1930)

Keeper of the Keys (1932)

On film Charlie Chan first appears in earnest in Charlie Chan
Carries On (1931) starring Warner Oland. One feature of the movie
adaptations is Chan's frequent use of Chinese proverbs and quotes at
appropriate moments. These are the focus of this website.